Pulled Pork Pasta Salad
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Pulled Pork Pasta Salad is a perfect summer salad for potlucks or any weeknight dinner. I’m using pre-cooked pulled pork and BBQ sauce instead of mayo – so it’s creamy and hearty!
What You Will ❤️ About Pulled Pork Pasta Salad
- Hearty – Chunks of veggies and lots of pulled pork will make this salad a MEAL!
- Easy! I love store-bought pulled pork because there’s no work! For this recipe – buy the UNSAUCED so you can use your favorite
- No Mayo! Pasta salads can often be heavy and laden with mayonnaise – but this uses a mustard-based bbq sauce so it’s lighter and more delicious!
Pulled Pork Pasta Salad Ingredients
Everybody always needs quick and easy side dishes on cookout day – and while this has protein in it – it’s still a great side dish! Here’s what you’ll need:
- 1 lb bowtie noodles – bowtie are great because they have nooks & crannies that hold the sauce!
- 2 stalk celery, diced
- 1 bell pepper, diced – any color will work – I used orange but red bell pepper is great too
- 14 oz roasted corn
- 3 oz black olives, sliced
- 10 oz plain Greek yogurt
- 2/3 cup mustard-based bbq sauce – these are typically referred to as Carolina Gold or mustard bbq sauce
- 2 tbsp salt
- 3 cups pulled pork sauceless – You can make your own pulled pork or just buy the pre-made in store
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For the pork – I found a great timesaver! Curly’s makes a SAUCELESS version of their pulled pork – it’s in the refrigerated section of the store. I loved it because most sauced versions have the traditional barbecue sauce – but I had something special in mind for this one! The sauceless is ready to go – you can heat it up in just a couple of minutes in the microwave to loosen it so you can use it in the salad.
How to Make Pulled Pork Pasta Salad
Pasta salad is so easy to make – which makes it a great picnic or cookout food – as well as a weeknight dinner you can put together in 15 minutes!
- In a large pot of boiling water, over high heat, cook bowtie noodles according to package directions. When done to al dente, drain in a colander and rinse to cool.
- In a large bowl, combine cooked pasta, celery, bell pepper, roasted corn and olives in a bowl.
- In separate bowl, mix together greek yogurt, bbq sauce, and salt.
- Pour yogurt mixture over pasta mixture, then toss to coat.
- Heat Pulled Pork for 45 seconds in the microwave to loosen so it’s easier to mix
- Stir Pulled Pork into pasta mixture
- Add creaminess upon serving with additional bbq sauce
Variations for Pulled Pork Pasta Salad
This easy side dish can become vegetarian by leaving out the pork or add more veggies to suit your taste!
- Swap BBQ Sauce – there are never-ending flavors of bbq sauce – you don’t have to use a mustard sauce – I just think it goes well with the cold pasta and veggies. Use your favorite bbq sauce and it will still be delicious!
- Vegetarian – leave out the pork and add more vegetables like red onion, cucumbers, scallions, black beans and/or cherry tomatoes
- Add Cheese – I left out the cheese because I was trying to keep it light – but you could add finely diced cubes of colby jack or cheddar cheese
- Swap Pulled Pork – not a fan? Use rotisserie chicken instead!
- Spice It Up – This isn’t spicy but you could add chili powder, cayenne pepper or even hot sauce to make it a little spicier
Tips, Tricks & FAQs
Store leftovers in an airtight container (I like these glass ones) in the refrigerator for up to a week. Add more bbq sauce when re-serving as the pasta will absorb the sauce quickly.
The sauce ingredients have time to meld and get to know each other!
More Pasta Salad Recipes
More Recipes for Leftover Pulled Pork
Pulled Pork Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 1 lb bowtie noodles
- 2 stalk celery diced
- 1 bell pepper diced
- 14 oz roasted corn
- 3 oz black olives sliced
- 10 oz plain Greek yogurt
- 2/3 cup mustard-based bbq sauce
- 2 tbsp salt
- 3 cups pulled pork sauceless
Instructions
- In a large pot of boiling water, cook bowtie noodles according to package directions. When done to al dente, drain and rinse to cool.1 lb bowtie noodles
- Combine cooked pasta, celery, bell pepper, roasted corn and olives in a bowl.2 stalk celery, 1 bell pepper, 14 oz roasted corn, 3 oz black olives
- In separate bowl, mix together greek yogurt, bbq sauce, and salt.10 oz plain Greek yogurt, 2/3 cup mustard-based bbq sauce, 2 tbsp salt
- Pour yogurt mixture over pasta mixture, then toss to coat.
- Heat Curly’s Sauceless Pulled Pork for 45 seconds in the microwave3 cups pulled pork
- Stir Curly’s Sauceless Pulled Pork into pasta mixture
- Add creaminess upon serving with additional bbq sauce
